The Day Our Dad Fainted

Glen had been feeling under the weather for a few days. His wife had just returned from a weekend away when he admitted, " - I haven't been feeling good all weekend." The next day, Glen called the doctor, who instructed him to visit Urgent Care for a check-up. With a sense of urgency, the family piled into the car and headed to the clinic. Little did they know, this trip was about to take an unexpected turn.

At Urgent Care, the doctor told Glen he needed to go downstairs for blood work. As they made their way to the lab, Glen suddenly stopped. " - I feel dizzy," he said, " - I need to sit down." Before anyone could react, Glen fainted in the waiting room. His wife shouted for help, and medical staff rushed over.

The doctor and nurse helped Glen into a chair and asked him some questions to ensure he was okay. His wife stayed with the kids, who were only six and seven years old. " - What's happening to Dad?" one of the kids asked. They were worried and felt helpless. The nurse suggested they head to the kid's clinic across the hall to wait with some activities.

As Glen was wheeled back into a room for blood work, his wife checked on the kids. " - We'll be okay," she reassured them. But the wait grew longer, and Glen became restless. " - I just want to know what's wrong," he sighed. Meanwhile, the kids tried to stay busy with the movie and snacks but couldn't shake their worry.

Finally, Glen's wife returned with news. They had to go to Stanford Hospital for more tests. " - Why can't they help Dad here?" one of the kids asked. " - Sometimes, we need more specialists," she explained gently. They needed to find someone to look after the kids while they went to the hospital. It was another hurdle they hadn't expected.

The family friend agreed to watch the kids, and they packed their bags. " - We've never stayed anywhere else overnight," the kids said, nervous about the change. But they knew their parents needed them to be brave. " - We'll see you soon, okay?" their mom assured them. With a mix of fear and courage, the kids waved goodbye.

That night, the kids stayed with the family friend, who took them to the beach. " - The waves are like Dad's stories," one kid said, thinking of their surfer dad. Glen's courage inspired them to face their fears. The next morning, their mom called. " - Dad's in a room now," she said, " - he wants to talk to you." Hearing his voice gave them the strength they needed.

Finally, Glen was diagnosed and treated at the hospital. " - I'm feeling much better," he told his kids when they visited him. " - You were so brave," their mom praised them. With the courage they found during this ordeal, they learned they could handle anything together. And just like that, the family was ready to ride the next wave of life, stronger than ever.